Reina's POV
"Ahaha," I chuckled softly, amused with what I have just heard, " You didn't mean that right?" I blinked severally at him, not wanting to believe what I had just heard." Tell me you didn't fucking mean what you have just said, Richard? Tell me you do not want to break me in such a way…tell me you do not want to break my heart just like that…please…" I bellowed, shutting my eyes tightly before opening them."Tell me you aren't giving up on us" I pleaded with him, moving closer to touch him, to run my hands on him if it meant him knowing that I was here" I am tired Reina, of this charade we call marriage, of what we have…. I am tired already" he answered me, his gaze drifting off, he wasn't looking at me, perhaps was that how much he hated me. Did my presence disgust him?I shook my head, not wanting to accept what I had just heard, "We can make this work, Richard, you know that we can, don't you? You have always told me that we can do whatever we set our mind to do…remember?" I placed my hands on his arms, arms that had comforted me when we were having sex, hands that I would always want to be in"We have been trying Reina, for the past four years, we have been putting in effort. I have been putting in the effort but I feel worse with each day that passes. I cannot breathe, you are suffocating me, your love is suffocating me and I want to breathe… I need to breathe and you need to go away from me"My steps faltered and I took a deep breath to think properly " Please…. Please do not do this to me Richard, you are free to do whatever it is that you want to do…I wouldn't hold you back, just don't leave me... I cannot…. I cannot think straight without you, all I am pleading for is your presence, just that so please…don't leave me"He scoffed, pulling my hands away from him, " This is one effing reason I do not like you anymore. Can you see how you are lowering yourself just so I can be in your life? Tell me, Reina, aside from your wit, what else do you have? Perhaps are you scared that no one would want your sorry arse anymore, you disgust me"I flipped my gaze at him,amidst my sobs, amidst the reminder that my heart had been broken earlier, I was determined to make things work, was I asking for too much? "Tell me, Richard... Why does it have to end this way? I did everything you wanted me to do…you wanted my shares, and I gave them to you, you wanted my body, I gave it to you, and even my love…. you have them all.. so tell me" my voice quivered with anguish as I tried to find the right words to sayIt felt like my heart was being yanked out of my body and stomped on, I needed all of this to make sense, I needed to know why I wasn't worth it when I had given my all, why was I being treated like trash?"I never asked for anything," he shrugged, walking past me,"All of this, I never wanted it and you knew that, you gave me your heart because you thought I warranted it, you gave it all because you knew no one else wanted you"I placed a hand on my chest when his words pierced through, like tiny needles, they broke me, shattered me into tiny pieces, pieces I knew wouldn't be recoverable but still I wanted him, I wanted him to know that I was finally having his children, that he was going to be a father, would it make any difference?"And that is what you think is right? Or perhaps is it because of who you had in your office?"He gazed at me,mouth agape" You were in my office?"" Yes" I nodded, " I was in your office and I heard them all, the moans, the grunts, the fact that she kept urging you on, I stood out there, and even when they kept resonating in my ear, even when.." I squeezed my eyes tightly, trying as hard as I could not to recall what had happened before flicking them openI let out sniffled noises when he stared at me shocked, "I listened as my husband banged into another woman who wasn't me, as he fucked someone who wasn't me and I came back here, waiting for you, waiting to talk to you…"" I do not want a divorce," I shook my head, objecting to what he had said earlier" I don't, I do not want one, all I am asking is you by my side, and we can start afresh so please…don't do this to me…your company still needs me, please…"He stared at the ceiling, before glancing at me, his eyes, olive brown, danced when they came in contact with the lightning in the room. I could tell he was having a hard choice, he needed me, he needed me in his life." Ariana is back…"I stumbled backward, my hands gripping the hardwood in front of me," Ariana?" I wanted to be sure of what I had heard,I fidgeted with my hands while gulping down the lump that was stuck in my throat, "Was she the one…the same person you had in your office?"The silence that followed gave me the answer I needed, I flicked my head to the table, where the documents lay. " Divorce papers" were written boldly on it and all it would take was my signature and whatever we had would be annulled but I didn't want to let him go, not to Ariana, a childhood friend of mine who had always wanted everything I wanted." Sign those Reina, and get out of my life, I am expecting a child with Ariana soon and I have promised to stay by her side, so get out of my life" My gaze followed his slender legs as he walked up the stairs and my legs moved as fast as they could toward him.Wrapping a hand around his wrist, I flipped him around, smiling wryly at him, " I have something to tell you also, I went to the doctor today and…."" Get. Out. Of. My. Life" he shoved me aside, spitting harshly to my face. I gasped out in shock as I felt my legs give way, before stumbling backward, I stretched out a hand at him, hoping that he would hold me, but when a grin appeared on his face, I knew I was done for,I wrapped my hand firmly around my stomach protectively as I rolled down the stairs, a tear slipped through my eyes before I slumped on the marble tiles.Reina's POVI gasped out with sweat running down my face, and my chest heaving heavily, I flipped my gaze around taking in sight of the room I was in when I saw Nina, seated on the long couch, how long had she been sitting there?A wave of pain shot through my body, numbing me for seconds, and I reclined against the wall, squeezing my eyes tight as memories from what had happened came back just like a running train would have.Did he hate me that much already? I could remember vividly well that I had stretched out a hand to him, hoping that he would hold me but he had flashed a grin at me before stepping back."My babies" I gasped out, running a hand on my stomach, were they gone?"Reina..?" Nina's voice came through and I flicked my eyes open,"My babies….." I whispered with dread filling my voice, that shallow feeling in my stomach seemed to have worsened,"Don't tell me I lost them?" She averted her gaze to the ground and my heart flipped, my hands lay limp by my side and I could f
Richard's POVI sat on the chair, the air heavy with dread, as my eyes drifted to the papers that littered about the office. The scent of the coffee that I had ordered my secretary to brew for me a while ago lingered in the air, but still, I couldn't take my eyes off the documents that had just been placed on my table, the one with the large font in front of it that read divorce papers.A while ago, Ryan had walked in, holding them in his hands, and although I had prayed that it was just a figment of my imagination playing out on me, I was faced with the sad reality that it wasn't when he had slammed it on the table again, jolting me out of my thoughts My heart ached as I reached out to take it, fiddling through the pages. I just couldn't believe Reina had signed them, my chest tightened, and a lump formed in my throat, one that stayed, no matter how hard I tried to force it down. “Richard, I'm sorry,” Ryan apologized, his voice dripping with sympathy, that made me chuckle, why wa
Richard's POV“I don't care whatever it is that you intend on doing or how exactly you are going to search for her but get me Reina!” I screamed at Darren, my nerves bulging out as I punched the wall, denting it in the process,He stood still, not moving an inch further away, “I have searched everywhere for her, It has been weeks, and she is nowhere to be found, Why don't you just give up on her?” I shot him a glare, one that I was sure as hell sent shudders down his spine as I demanded him to say what he had just said again, “What did you just say?” I asked, while tapping on my knee earnestly, waiting for an answer,He said words that came out in muffled sounds before shaking his head to the side, “Nothing boss” he answered before turning on his heels and making his way out of my office.I ran a hand through my locks, before letting out a hiss, I was vexed, vexed at everything happening. Why had she gone that far? What happened to our promise to be with each other forever? I wondered
Richard's POV It was taking all the restraint in me to keep my sanity in check as my eyes bore through the laptop in front of me, the stocks were plummeting with each minute. I stood up, with my hands placed on my waist before kicking the chair in anger, my feet stung, but I couldn't care less as I fumed in anger, I threw a glance at the door when it was yanked open and Darren stepped in, his face was stormy, and I could tell the answer already, “She is nowhere to be found” I took in a deep breath, hoping that it would help me think better, but it did little to help, it was times like this when I needed Reina more, months without her felt so dark and I needed her,“The shareholders? What exactly is going on?” I was trying everything inside of me to be calm, trying not to look at the system in front of me, but I couldn't. I bit on my nails anxiously as I waited for an answer, “Speak!” “ Somehow the news of what you have done found its way to the reporters, and they were all eager
Richard's POV“ They are here” Darren announced as he pushed the door open, his eyes fixed on mine, I stood up, picking up my blazer with me before storming toward the door. My heart stomped fast against my rib cage, “ What do you think it's going to be? Do you think it will be in our favor? The shareholders, do you think they are going to listen to me?” I blurted out, I knew that I shouldn't be having cold feet, at least not presently but I just couldn't help it." They should, you are still the CEO of the company” he answered. I knew that he was trying to help, but it wasn't helping at all. “ I hope so” I placed a hand on the doorknob before pulling it back quickly like I had been scalded by a hot iron. I could hear them all, chattering and talking, I knew that I had to prepare myself for the worst, but I didn't want that either.Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door gently before stepping in. Contrary to what I was expecting and how it should have been, they didn't stand up li
Reina's POV“Hand it back” I snapped at Nina, stretching my hands out at her. Her eyes were fixed on me, a sullen look on her face, “ What do you think you are doing? Tell me Reina'' she held my arms, forcing me up, “Tell me you aren't thinking of helping him because if that is what you are thinking, I would never forgive you”.“Yes” I nodded, giving her an answer, "Yes, that is what I want to do, I cannot watch the company I painstakingly built go down the drain, I just can't”Her eyes darkened, as she flipped her head to the side, “He hurt you, can't you see he is facing the repercussions? Can't you see that? Why do you want to help the very person who broke you? Whyyyyy!” she yelled out. My eyes turned misty with tears, I was finding it hard to explain to her, “You love him still, don't you?” Her eyes widened in shock when I stared into hers, “ Whyyyyy? Why do you still love someone like him? He doesn't even want you back, he doesn't even respect you, and now you are talking abo
Reina's POV“ Stay with me, Reina” Nina held my hands tightly when I was lowered on the stretcher, the pain that shot through me made me gnash my teethA tear slipped through my cheek when the memory came back again, this time harder than the last, the way Richard's face had lit up when he stared at Ariana had broken me, why her? Why does it have to be her? I kept asking myself repeatedly until I couldn't anymore. I knew I needed to stay sane, the dark crimson color that had flown down my leg was there still and Nina's pleading voice for me to stay with her was still echoing in my head. “ I can't…. I can't…anymore” I flicked my head to the side as the intensity worsened, it was taking every single thing inside of me to keep my strength, I wanted to meet with my babies, they deserved that much.Her feet sank to the ground, “No…no…you can… Reina..you can't, gosh, Reina, don't do this, don't…” she pleaded as I felt darkness envelop me, I could feel myself drifting with each moment that p
Reina's POVI listened with a stern look on my face while holding one of the twins firmly, my chest beating fast.“ I can still remember when we were little, I keep thinking about what it is that you didn't like about me, but you just wouldn't say” Jackson shrugged, a frown on his face as he peered into my eyes. I was taken aback at what he had just said. It was true that I didn't really fancy him then, and it was still the same now. It has never changed. “I would have been a better choice, you know” he added while dipping a hand into his pocket, “But I guess, I wasn't fit enough to stand close to you” My heart ached as I clenched the blanket I was holding, Nina stood at a far distance with Kelvin and when our eyes met, she flashed a smile at me, while urging me on. It was amazing how she had managed to get along with Jackson in the span of a short time, and she was always chipping in words of how he was just perfect for me. I couldn't recall how many times I had to remind her abou
Nina's POVMy heart sledged against my rib cage while I watched Ryan navigate his way as he drove down. I thought of how Brian was in cuffs, how all of those girls were going to be served justice soon, even my secretary and I couldn't have been happier. The thought of her stabbing him even when he had shot her still sent shivers down my spine. I didn't understand why she had done that, I wouldn't have known until she had told me that I was the first person who had treated her in such a way. My hands moved on my gown, tapping on it repeatedly when a hand clasped around it, trying to get me to stare at him. “ I am fine, just focus and drive” “ You are agitated, are you fine?” “ I am” I answered, my voice betraying my words. He swerved off course, slamming the brakes before peering at me. “ I am not a fool, fluffy bear, what is in your mind?” He questioned again. I chewed on my lips, gazing at him before the words came out. “ I just think he should have been found earlier, I m
Nina's POV “I am fine” I tried to shrug his hands off. He was being a worrywart. “You don't have to come with me’’ I tried to get him off my back. I mean we were in the penthouse together, and although the kids weren't here, I knew they were okay. I was fine as well, but Ryan wasn't so sure of that, seeing how he was constantly on my heels. “Really? It is the same spot, it isn't that far from the stairs” I glanced up, directing his gaze to the spiral step. He shook his head, nor listening to me. “You can't understand how I felt when I saw you being bonded into the car, I had never felt so helpless, I mean, in the courtroom everyone knew me as the best, but there, I couldn't do anything” he confessed. My heart stilled while I watched him. “I know that I shouldn't think about that, but I was already doing so. I thought about what would happen if he used you as one of his trophies. I was already thinking of how to make him pay, but inwardly, I hope that you would be fine, for me,
Nina's POV When I had felt the needle prick my skin, I couldn't move an inch, no matter how hard I tried to, it was impossible for me to. I had pleaded, bawled my eyes even before I lost consciousness. When I was awake, I found out I was lying on the ground, not tied up, but I was lying down on skulls, and sharp bones which jabbed into me. I had tried to stand up, but a closer gaze at where I was had me wobbling, a scream had left my throat at what I was seeing while I had stumbled backwards. I hadn't known this, knew that he had this. He had always lived a spotless life, at least that's what my mother and I had known, we hadn't known about this, hadn't thought that he was capable of decapitating humans, of storing humans, of killing them, making trophies out of them. We hadn't known how much of a psychopath he was, that he had a habit of collecting trophies, human ones. Chills had run down my spine, countless times that I had forgotten to breathe. When I had finally pushed o
Ryan's POVI kept muttering out words which were incoherent even to myself while Nina was in my arms. I tried to get up, tried to think, I knew that she needed to be out of here, that we both had to be out of here, but my knees were stamped to the ground. A hand grasped my shoulders, jolting me up. “You have to leave, get her to the hospital” I flickered my gaze around, a string of curses leaving my lips as I did so. I searched around, for his gait, to see him with cuffs clicked on his wrist, but he was nowhere to be found, I threw the thought that told me he had fled away, that couldn't have happened. “Brian, where is he?” I questioned Richard, whose face gave an answer I didn't want to believe. A cackle left my lips, reverberating across the room. “You can't let him go, the kids, our kids, Reina, they are there, he might hurt them” He shook his head at me, peering once more in my arms. “Get out of here, let me handle the rest”I forced myself up, nodding at him before I tra
Ryan's POV A dip, that was what I had felt when I had pushed the door open, and she wasn't in there. I had tried to convince myself that she would be in the room, she would be in the bathroom, she might have taken a walk, but I knew that wasn't it. My third senses didn't just agree with what I thought it was, so I had pleaded with Richard to get access to the CCTV, and he had. “ She is heading towards the back door, I am going to give an order for all doors to be locked right away, get her back man”His words would have sounded right if I hadn't chased down like a mad man, and watched as she was yanked into a car, a midnight black sports car. I had raced down, sprinted down the stairs with both hands on my hips as I took in gaps of air. I chewed on my lips, until I could feel the crimson taste, the coppery taste sluicing through my senses. I heaved, before punching into the wall as I slipped into my car, chasing after them. I was going to be a fool to let him take her away from
Nina's POVI felt like a mess, the only thing that no one else wanted to associate with, I didn't want to think about what exactly Brian would be thinking, I didn't want to know why I hadn't even thought about the fact that he had such tendencies, was I ever in love with him? No, so why was I unable to see it? I hated it, with each fiber in me when people were in such an uncomfortable place because of me. I could sense it, the hesitation, the hurt that filled Reina's eyes. I was the cause of all that. I always made things happen, and when they did, they always hurt everyone around me. I chewed on my lips before breaking off my thoughts. “ You aren't the cause of anything” Ryan cupped my face as he whispered at me. I tried to believe that I wasn't, it was going to mean a lot, but I couldn't do so. I always did this, I had done this to mum, and it hadn't been funny. “It is fine, I want to go home” she insisted. Home wasn't going to be the little white bungalow that Ryan had built
Ryan's POVThere was no way I would have known what exactly she was thinking, now that I was thinking about it, she had always kept her emotions cladded. So tight that I couldn't see through. Why would she ever think that? Why was she going to think that she would ever wreck my life? Even if she did, she would do so in a good way. She was the only thing that sparkled in my life, so what exactly had she been thinking? Was she really going to act as if she didn't know? That she didn't have a clue of how much she meant to me? What she actually meant to me? How I will raze everywhere down if it meant me being with her again? “ My fluffy bear” I flicked the tears off her cheek. “ Why would you ever think that? Why would you ever think that you wreck anything?”The tears ran down her cheek, while I patted her back, letting her lean on my shoulders. “ You will never be a wreck to me, you mean the whole world to me, don't you know how whole you make me feel? You made me love, you made m
Ryan's POV I had a hand against my head, as I gazed at the screen before me. I had a deadline and I knew that I had to get this done, but I couldn't bring myself to work. My eyes turned blurry as I peered into the computer, the screen splitting into lines of black and white the longer I gazed at it. Brian and Nina were two people who just didn't fit, I had tried to place my hands on it, but I just couldn't get why exactly she preferred his presence all of a sudden. Was it because of the crash? Why exactly would she forget us all and prefer his company? All of a sudden, at that?A gush of air left my throat as I tried to get the answer, but it wasn't forthcoming, my hands ran across the keyboard before I tapped on the landline, ushering my secretary in. “ How many pro bono cases have we taken up this week?” I had to keep to my arrangements, and had to be careful when it was needed also. “ Five” “ How many more?” There had to be more, and I needed to know if I would go myself, j
Brian tried to understand what exactly it was that Nina was playing at, but he just couldn't. He would have believed her little antics that she had indeed lost her memories, if she hadn't avoided all of his attempts to touch her. It seemed like she had something in mind, maybe she was thinking of how to pay him back, and she was in for a long run because he was certainly not going to allow that. He was determined to play along, and perhaps then when he had gotten her to lower her guards, he would have his way with her, for now, he had to make her pay for going against his words. His eyes searched around the familiar white bungalow severally for its owner, and when it was dawned on him that he wouldn't be successful tonight, he tried to leave when he heard her heels on the pavement. He slipped the little camera he always had in his pocket, he was one who loved to record memories of when his opponent was at their lowest, when he tainted his hands with blood because he got the thril